So I have a question.
Last year when my boat was out (6 months in and 6 out) I noticed a broken off swim grid support bolt that is under water. I replaced it as well as the other screw on that bracket. The other screw was half eroded away when I replaced it (I know electrolysis is a good possibility). They are both directly under my kicker which hangs off the swim grid so I figured after 10 years of that bouncing it took its toll.
On this years list of to-do items before I put it back into the water was replace all swim grid support bolts that are under water. I removed one today and it was perfect shape. I figure it can't hurt to reseal it anyways but then I started looking - where do i start and stop? Trim tabs 6-7 screws each, sounder 4 screws, swim grid 8 screws, speed paddle wheel 2 screws, etc. These do not look fun to chip out and then remove with half dozen layers of anti-fouling paint covering the heads.
How far do you go on these "maybe I should do them items" ? Am I just going to have hrs of work and the chance of a leak if I screw something up trying to reseal "just because" ? Most of the screws just go in fiberglass so am I risking stripping threads ? Would you reseal underwater hardware and such on a 10 year old boat just because or not open that can of worms until you have a problem (ie my bolt head gone) ?
Thanks
Dave
Last year when my boat was out (6 months in and 6 out) I noticed a broken off swim grid support bolt that is under water. I replaced it as well as the other screw on that bracket. The other screw was half eroded away when I replaced it (I know electrolysis is a good possibility). They are both directly under my kicker which hangs off the swim grid so I figured after 10 years of that bouncing it took its toll.
On this years list of to-do items before I put it back into the water was replace all swim grid support bolts that are under water. I removed one today and it was perfect shape. I figure it can't hurt to reseal it anyways but then I started looking - where do i start and stop? Trim tabs 6-7 screws each, sounder 4 screws, swim grid 8 screws, speed paddle wheel 2 screws, etc. These do not look fun to chip out and then remove with half dozen layers of anti-fouling paint covering the heads.
How far do you go on these "maybe I should do them items" ? Am I just going to have hrs of work and the chance of a leak if I screw something up trying to reseal "just because" ? Most of the screws just go in fiberglass so am I risking stripping threads ? Would you reseal underwater hardware and such on a 10 year old boat just because or not open that can of worms until you have a problem (ie my bolt head gone) ?
Thanks
Dave
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